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010 <br />program established by N.C. Gen, stat. section 105 -277.2 <br />through 105 -277.7 or is otherwise determined by the <br />County to meet all the qualifications of this program set <br />forth in N.C. Gen. stet. section 105- 277.3. <br />b. Be certified by the soil Conservation Service of the <br />United states Department of Agriculture as being a farm <br />on which at least two - thirds of the land is composed of <br />soils that: <br />(1) Are best suited for providing food, seed, fiber, <br />forage, timber, and oil seed crops; <br />(2) Have good soil qualities; <br />(3) Are favorable for all major crops common to <br />Orange County; <br />(4) Have a favorable growing season; and <br />(5) Receive the available moisture needed to produce <br />high yields for an average of eight (8) out of ten <br />(10) years; <br />OR be one on which at least two - thirds of the land has <br />been actively used in agricultural, horticultural or <br />forestry operations as defined in N.C. Gen. stat. section <br />105 -277.2 (1,2 s 3) during each of the five (5) previous <br />years, measured from the date on which the determination <br />must be made as to whether the land in question <br />qualifies. <br />a. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, <br />in accordance with the soil Conservation service defined <br />erosion - control practices. <br />d. Be the subject of a conservation agreement, as defined in <br />N.C. Gene stat. section 121 -350 between the Orange County <br />and the owner of such land that prohibits non -farm use or <br />development of such land for a period of at least ten <br />(10) years, except for the creation of not more than <br />three (3) lots that meet applicable orange County zoning <br />and subdivision regulations. <br />B. APPLIQATION AND CS'RTIFICATION PROCEDURES <br />[The procedures identified below provide the means by which <br />applications for certification are processed. The Planning <br />Department has been designated as the beginning point in this <br />process, since it has served as staff to the Advisory Board. The <br />actual determination of compliance with the certification criteria <br />would largely be the responsibility of the Orange County Tax <br />Supervisor and Soil Conservation offices, and the Advisory Board.] <br />